WHAT WILL 2011 HOLD FOR BRIGG?

Not exactly new year resolutions, but Brigg Blog thought we'd try and forecast what the coming 12 months might hold, and look at a few topics likely to become the subject of talk on Brigg streets.

Tesco and Lidl's new stores: The much-delayed Lidl planning application has still to be made public (should be any time now), but we can already view what Tesco is proposing. It's hard to imagine these applications, collectively, being outsted for the title of Major Brigg Planning Issue 2011. The possible/likely effect on small Brigg shops will be voiced during the debate. Tesco is offering many Extra jobs, but how many might disappear within existing concerns? Expect a decision in the spring.

Traffic flow: Connected with the supermarket development will be the thorny topic of traffic movement through Brigg and particularly how all those cars going to, and from, Tesco's new store (if it's approved) will access and exit Cary Lane at the traffic lights. As most of us know, you only need a bit of extra traffic on Thursdays and Saturdays (market days/farmers' market) for things to back up right along Barnard Avenue, past The Monument and sometimes as far as the level crossing on Bigby Road. North Lincolnshire Council is not only the planning but also the highway authority. So there's plenty of officer expertise to draw upon. Tesco have done their own traffic study and presented it with their application. An additional third lane on Cary Lane, allowing right turns, is being suggested.

Railway passenger service: There have been calls in recent years for train operators to expand our current, dismal service of three trains each way, only on Saturdays. But I'm growing increasingly concerned that Brigg's existing trains, to Sheffield and Cleethorpes, might get caught up in all these Government cutbacks and could be axed altogether. Clearly the service Brigg now "enjoys" can't break even, carrying, as it does, only a handful of passengers. Worse still, there's an alternative service via Scunthorpe already in place. As a town we've had passenger trains since the 1840s.

Town twinning: Late last year a German community, through its Mayor, contacted Brigg Town Council in the hope of forging an official town-twinning arrangement. Brigg isn't currently twinned with any other town - at home or abroad. Expect further debate on this in the coming months. But before you think otherwise, Brigg Blog forecasts that if our town councillors do decide to give the go-ahead they will ensure there's little or no cost involved to the public purse.

Tourism: If the German twinning does go ahead, it will afford an excellent opportunity to discover what visitors from overseas find of interest in Brigg and district. Brigg Blog has said many times that our town does not enjoy the visitor numbers it should - from UK or continental tourists.

Community-Led Plan: A team is working away trying to produce a sort of "wish list" document listing things people within our community would like to see. Before too long we should learn What the Public Wants and then wait to find out whether the powers-that-be can ensure The Public Gets What the Public Wants.

Messing about on the river: A regular Brigg-based boat service, offering trips round "The Island" and perhaps further afield, would be very welcome. But it would have to be private enterprise. The Town Council has helped kick-start clean-ups of litter, in and near the river, and there's talk of improvements to the Old River Ancholme towpath area, in connection with the supermarket development. This topic will be on the agenda quite often during the coming months.

Christmas illuminations: Hopefully, December 2011 will not be as grim, in terms of weather, as the one we've just encountered and that Brigg Town Council will again be able to provide the festive lights in the town centre (with official switch-on ceremony) and our Market Place Christmas tree will take its rightful place as the centre-piece of it all. On 'elf and safety grounds, many councils in Britain have given up on Christmas illuminations, but fortunately ours continues to see the light, so to speak.

To market, to market: Brigg's general market is in need of a boost. North Lincolnshire Council, which manages things these days, is aware of that. The range of stalls and number of customers visiting on Thursdays and Saturdays could both do with a healthy increase. Our award-winning monthly farmers' market continues to draw the crowds, but some of the "outsiders" who come to Brigg once a month for this event need to be encouraged, in some way, to come here more often.

Anyone for cricket? I'm declaring an interest (pardon the pun) after spending 30 years with Brigg Town Cricket Club up to 2004, but I sincerely hope those involved with things in 2011 can keep the club functioning. The first team has been "pulled" from the Lincolnshire League, leaving only one Saturday side for 2011. Cutbacks have also been introduced at youth level. Brigg Recreation Ground, and its surrounds, really need investment. But we can't expect the owners, North Lincolnshire Council, to find any funds in the current economic climate. This facility was created for Brigg after the Second World War, from farmland, but now stands uneasily at a crossroads. Someone, somewhere has to get together and stop the decline. Back in the 1960s, while still in Brigg Urban District Council ownership, it was thriving with grass and hardcourt tennis, a putting green, a well-tended cricket square and two football pitches used regularly by clubs and Brigg County Primary School. It even had a small shop selling sweets, crisps, pop and ice cream. These days the functional, but ugly, changing room block is surrounded by a metal stockade to keep out vandals who have also wrecked the tennis courts. Could 2011 perhaps see a change in fortunes?

Driving in the pedestrian area: Sometimes the authorities seem to be getting on top of this problem and then things seem to get worse again. We trust there will be a real effort in 2011 to ensure that only those with valid reasons can drive cars, vans and lorries into the restricted parts of Market Place and Wrawby Street without being held to account. Nipping to cashpoints and doing a quick bit of shopping are not valid reasons for taking vehicles into the pedestrian zone. Surely the CCTV cameras viewing this part of town should be fully utilised to prosecute the offenders. Once word gets round the authorities are clamping down, so to speak, the issue will start to go away. Too many people have been getting away with things for too long.